Watch band and clasp



vMarch 10,1959 N. LEGMAN 2,876,521

WATCH BAND AND CLASP Filed April 25, 195e JNVENTOR.

NATHAN LEGMAN K El?.

UnitedSfafsSParser@ WATCH BAND AND CLASP Nathan Legman, Bronx, N. Y.Application April 25, 1956, Serial No. 580,611

' 1 Claim. (ci. 24z65) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in watch band clasps or latches for attaching a watch bandor strap to a watch.

More particularly, the present invention proposes the construction of animproved watch band connector and release latch `tor removably attachinga watch band to a watchcase band post and for quickly and easilychanging a watch band when it has become worn, soiled, or needs changingfor any other reason.

As a further object, the present invention proposes forming a singlesimply made strap end housing having one end removably to hold an end ofa watch strap and another hook end adapted to hook around a watchcaseband post with a positive acting closure member movably mounted in thehousing releasably to lock the band post in the hook end of the housing.

y' For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a front view of a wrist watch and strap having a pair of watchband connector and release latches constructed and arranged inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary rear view of part of the structure shown in Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, parts beingomitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latch and a portion of one of thestraps of the watch band.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 2, parts beingomitted.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the latch being removedor put on a band post.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the closure member of the latch.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the housing of the latch.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but illustrating a modification ofthe present invention.

Fig. l0 is a sectional view taken on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. l0 but showing the open position ofthe latch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the watch band connectorand release latch in accordance with the rst form of the inventionillustrated in Figs. l to 8, inclusive, is designated generally by thereference numeral 15. f

In Fig. 1, two latches 15 are shown holding the straps 16 and 17 ofwatch band 18 to the cylindrical band posts 19 and 20 mounted betweenprojecting ears of the case 21 of wrist watch 22. While band 18 has beenshown as a leather band, it may be plastic, cloth, metal or any otherband material.

Latch 15 has a strap end housing 23 of sheet metal 2 having a rear endportion 24 adapted to hold the end of a fiat watch strap, a front endhook portion 25 adapted to tit around a watchease band post 19 or 20 andtwo spaced opposed side portions 26 and 27.

A closure member 28 has two spaced trunnions 29 and 30 at the rear end31 which pivotally iit into openings 32 and 33 in the spaced opposedside portions 26 and 27, respectively, ofthe housing 23.

Closure member 28 has a front or free end 34 adapted to move into alocking position adjacent and inside the front end hook portion 25 ofhousing 23 to lock a watchcase band post 19 or 20 in the front end hookportion.

A spiral spring or spring means 35 is mounted in the housing 23 betweenthe closure member 2S and the housing and between the front endhoolcportion 25 o f the housing and the trunnions 29 and 30 of theclosure merriber. The spring 35 engages the closure member 28 abuttingagainst it and the housing 23 to bias the closure member into the postlocking position shown in Fig. 5. Spring 35, however, permits movementof the closure member on its trunnions to the open position shown inFig. 6 and in dotted outline in Fig. 3.

Rear end portion 24 of housing 23 has a central tab 36 adapted 'toextend through an opening 37 in strap 16 or 17 of watch band 1S and bendover and against one side 38 of the strap in a locking position to lockthe strap removably in the housing.

Rear end portion 2e of housing 23 also has two opposed flap portions 39and 40 adapted to bend over a watch strap adjacent the portion 41 ofcentral tab 36 bent over and against side 38 of the Strap. The tlapportions 39 and 40 are each about one-third the width of the watch strapwhen bent over the strap, and abut the edges of the central tab 36.

The modification of the invention illustrated in Figs. 9, 10 and 11, ischaracterized by the provision of a latch 50 having a housing 51 with arear end portion 52, a front hook end portion 53 and spaced sideportions 54. In addition, the housing 51 has a slide plate channel 55longitudinally disposed in which is slidably mounted a closure member orslide plate 56.

Channel 55 has a handle slot opening 57 and slide plate 56 has a handle58 which extends out the opening 57 for moving the slide plate.

A channel blocking member 59 is mounted in the channel S5 and slideplate 56 has a rear end 60 spaced from the channel end blocking member.A spring 61 is mounted between the rear end 6i) ofthe slide plate 56 andmember 59 continually to bias the free or front end 62 of slide plate 56into the hooi: end portion 53 of the housing.

Rea-r end portion 52 of housing 51 has spaced strap engaging teeth 63removably to hold a strap end 64 in the housing 51.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of myinvention, itis to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes andmodifications may be made within the scope of the invention as delinedin the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

A watch strap connector and clasp for a watchcase comprising a housingformed of pressed sheet metal with a front end hook portion adapted tolit around a cylindrical post of a watchcase said hook portion having acurvature corresponding to the curvature of the post and having a widthsubstantially equal to the length of the post, a closure member formedof sheet metal movably mounted in the housing and having a width equalto the width of said hook portion, said closure member having 2,876,521`APatented ,Mata 1Q, 195.3

lla. free end adapted to move into a locking position adjacent andinside the hook portion to lock said post in said hook portion, springmeans in the housing engaging the closure member to bias said closuremember .into post locking position, said housing having a rear endportion with an integrally formed central tab, and with openings inopposed side portions thereof, and a flat strap having a width less thanthe width of said housing and having an opening, said central tabextending through the opening in said strap and bent over against oneside of the strap removably locking the strap in the housing, said rearend portion further having two opposed ap portions integrally formedthereon and bent over the strap adjacent the central tab, said flapportions each extending across substantially one-third the width of thestrap and abutting against the central tab, said ap portions and centraltab constituting one wall of the housing, said closure member havingspaced trunnions pivotally mounted in the openings in opposed sideportions of said rear end portion, said spring means being a coil springinounted between theclosure member and the housing and between said hookportion and trunnions.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS226,559 Shelby Apr. 13, 1880 315,175 Sly Apr. 7, 1885 322,438 GibbonsJuly 21, 1885 482,302 Cox Sept, 6, 1892 1,243,493 Douglas -2--- Oct. 16,1917 1,520,203 NewmanV Dec. 23, 1924 1,544,538 Anshen June 30, 19252,571,971 Vogel Oct. 16, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 6,967 Great Britain 1913368,861 Great Britain Mar. 17, 1932 691,141 Germany May 17, 1940

